Inside Beer (Aug 13th, 2019)

1. Denver's Brewability on Broadway is joining the small but growing number of breweries around the world that prioritize hiring people with disabilities. Formerly known as Brewability Lab, the brewery is moving and rebranding to make it more accessible and conducive to business. Founded by former special education teacher Tiffany Fixter, the brewery hires adults with developmental disabilities to teach them how to brew and work in a taproom. -- VINEPAIR

2. Texas is the only state that doesn't allow its breweries to sell beer to go, but that will change on Sept. 1. Up until now the state had strict three tier laws, and all breweries had to sell beer through a distributor. New beer delivery laws will also take effect the same day. Any business with a beer and wine retailer's license, which includes many restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, can apply for delivery permits to deliver alcoholic products themselves or through a digital delivery service like Instacart or Amazon. -- TEXAS TRIBUNE

3. Dayton's breweries are collaborating on #daytonstrong IPA to help those affected by the May 27 tornadoes. The tornadoes left the Miami Valley region near Dayton in shambles, displacing many families. In June, the region's breweries raised $56,000 with a beer bash benefiting those affected. To keep relief efforts going, participating breweries will release #daytonstrong IPA starting on August 17, each using the same recipe but its own own house processes and yeast. -- PORCH DRINKING

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4. Juice Maze IPA from San Diego's The Original 40 brewpub won the Sore Eye Cup competition. The competition is an annual event hosted by The Indie Beer Show podcast. Local beers are nominated by fans on social media, and a panel of judges made up of podcast members, homebrew club members and other beer industry professionals and personalities pick the winner in a blind taste test. The competition benefits local non-profit Mama's Kitchen that provides meals to those in need. -- WEST COASTER

5. New Orleans' Courtyard Brewery will double its space and production capacity. To expand one of the state's most popular breweries, owner Scott Wood is moving operations from the current brewery site to an almost century-old funeral home right the corner. Since breweries in Louisiana can't self-distribute, Wood is also working hard for statewide legislative changes that would allow breweries to mature in the market. -- GOOD BEER HUNTING

6. German settlers helped the city of Qingdao, China, become became synonymous with beer. In the late 1800s, Germans made the region the center of its colonial concession, and it wasn't long before Germans who settled their opened a brewery. That original brewery eventually became Tsingtao after changing hands during changing governments. Tsingtao's beer, although very different from its original German formula, is one of the world's most consumed brews. -- RADII

7. Cannabiniers, the cannibas beer company, is adding seasonal Mango Dango and Grapefruit Fight to its offerings. Its non-alcoholic Two Roots Brewing brand made with THC already has three non-alcoholic core beers - a lager, IPA, and wheat ale. Now it's adding seasonal flavors to its drinks that taste like beer but deliver a pot buzz. The beers are available at dispensaries in Nevada and California. -- AMERICAN CRAFT BEER

8. Anheuser-Busch is planning to buy 800 hydrogen-powered, zero-emission semi-trucks to sustainably ship its beer around the United States. If the purchase goes through, the beer maker will decarbonize its entire group of trucks that ship beer from breweries to wholesalers while cutting its transportation carbon emissions by 18 percent. GreenBiz interviewed A-B's Ingrid De Ryck for more details. -- GREENBIZ

9. Pabst is getting into the hard seltzer market with Stronger Seltzer. Most hard seltzer's come in at about 5 percent ABV, but Pabst's Lime offering, which it's testing in California, Arizona, California, Montana, and Texas has 8 percent ABV. John Newhouse, PBR brand manager, says it's a "fun and innovative new drink that delivers big on taste." -- BEER STREET JOURNAL

10. On Beer Advocate's Beer Talk, people are discussing if beer's demise is greatly exaggerated. Started by the site's founder Todd Alström, the discussion refutes the belief that beer is on a downslide and claims there's definitely opportunity for "enormous growth." Anyone can join the discussion and let commenter Billandsuz know if you agree that "there is some shifting within categories but nothing really earth shaking" or if you think the large crowds in taprooms refute the beer is dying theory, like commenter Premo88 does. -- BEER TALK

What's your take? Think beer's popularity is declining or is it much ado about nothing? Hit reply to share your thoughts.

Robin Shreeves is a wine, beer, spirits and travel writer. She's the wine columnist and restaurant and beverage features writer for the Courier Post newspaper in New Jersey. She holds an Intermediate Sommelier certification from the Wine School of Philadelphia. Her food and drinks writing can be found at Wine Enthusiast, VinePair, Food Network, Spirited magazine, USA Today, Mother Nature Network, Drink Nation, Edible Philly and Edible Jersey. Visit her website wineandwonder.com and follow her on Instagram at @rshreeves.

8. Anheuser-Busch is planning to buy 800 hydrogen-powered, zero-emission semi-trucks to sustainably ship its beer around the United States. If the purchase goes through, the beer maker will decarbonize its entire group of trucks that ship beer from breweries to wholesalers while cutting its transportation carbon emissions by 18 percent. GreenBiz interviewed A-B's Ingrid De Ryck for more details. -- GREENBIZ